BUFFALO, N.Y. — For the first time ever, a flag was raised in the city of Lockport in honor of Juneteenth.
Mayor John Lombardi said "this is a very historic event for the city of Lockport. We've had concerns throughout, I mean. diversity hasn't always been number one, but now by placing this flag here at this particular point, creating history for Lockport, there's no question that we we want to work with all."
The mayor's confidential assistant, Paula Halladay-Travis called it "a long time coming. I was born and raised here in the 70s, so I've seen such a range of prejudices going into diversity. It's it's refreshing to see this."
"I'm the first black woman to sit in my office and it speaks volumes and then to have this happen as well. It's a great day," said Halladay-Travis. "It represents freedom and unity. It's just something to take and think about and talk to your kids about, the fact that at one point us as black people, we were considered property. We weren't even human. So now to be able to fly our flag and say we are free. It means the world.
Lockport will hold it's first ever Juneteenth celebration on June 22 at Lockport High School.
Teria Young has been in Lockport for 19 years.
"It's just refreshing to actually see your work come into fruition, but to also to welcome others to celebrate as well. It's not a divisive thing, it's the unity and the pride and the people, our people, but also the people of America that we can overcome our differences and make a difference and make a change so that it can be excellent for our kids in the future," Young said.